<p>I'm very likely going to be paying for my entire college tuition (including room/board) regardless of where I go, and I really could use any and all suggestions of how to reduce college costs once I get there. I.E. taking classes at community colleges in the summer, buying books online, et al. If you have any other suggestions, please post them in this thread. </p>
<p>Note: I realize that by cutting corners with college costs, you can often detract from the experience. Thus I'll have to weigh the costs versus the reward.</p>
<p>Well...one major cost is room/board. If you can live at home, that can cut $10,000 a year off of your costs to a college. You might also want to consider taking courses at a community college for the first year or two to fulfill any general education requirements. Many CCs have a relationship whereby their credits transfer to four year schools usually within the state. Another thing you might want to look at is schools with established co-op programs. In these schools once students are juniors, they alternate terms working (and earning money) and going to school. It takes longer to get done, but you earn some money during the work terms to help pay for the school terms. DH did the above...2 years of general ed at the community college, then transferred to a four year school that had a co-op program. We were married so he lived "at home". While at the CC, there were a couple of terms when he took classes in the evening and worked during the day. That is another option to consider.</p>
<p>Do the first year or two years at community college and then transfer. I know the community college in our area has a guaranteed transfer program (transfer to a very highly ranked college) - kids who do this program save a huge bundle but when they graduate their diploma is from the highly ranked school.</p>
<p>I agree chrism- it isn't for everyone- but I know personally two students who took community college classes and transferred to Oberlin and University of Chicago- both of those schools accepted their credits , saving them and their parents a ton of money</p>
<p>Thanks for the input thus far, I greatly appreciate it.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don't want to sound "High and mighty", but I really don't think community college is a viable option for me. I'm the type of person who needs to be academically stimulated in order to excel (thus the reason my parents took me out of public school and put me in private school). I think if I went that route, I would end up bored by school and likely wouldn't finish my degree.</p>
<p>But, I am considering taking community college classes in the summer in order to reduce costs.</p>
<p>Don't discount community college classes as being easy. I'm a grown woman with kids and a prior degree. I took anatomy & physiology, chemistry, and microbiology at a community college a few years ago and found the classes to be extremely challenging. It all depends on the instructor and the curriculum they use.</p>
<p>I wasn't necessarily just thinking of the classes as being difficult, but also the caliber of students I'd be around. I've taken a few (non-degree seeking) classes at the community college, but wasn't impressed with the quality. If I go that route, I'd probably look into a different community college.</p>
<p>I'm not going to try to convince anyone that a community college is for them. BUT I will say...my husband did his general education requirements at the community college in the evenings. He found the students there to be HIGHLY motivated...they WANTED to be there. He then transferred into an engineering program to finish his degree. At his university, he didn't find the same level of high motivation in his day classes at all. He was a "non-traditional" student...an older undergrad. He found the college students were not all that well prepared and they didn't have the same level of commitment as the community college students. He took classes in the evenings as well (sometimes allowing him to work during the days as a co-op student) and there he also found adult learners with a very high level of motivation and commitment to learning. And lastly...getting the general ed requirements out of the way saved us a TON of money over the costs of the private university where DH got his degree. Oh...one other thing to check...some universities do NOT accept community college credits for matriculated students. Where DD goes to undergrad school, the university will NOT accept any transfer credits taken during the summers. All courses towards your degree must be taken at that university. SO...check...or you may be disappointed.</p>
<p>Where would I found out what kind of relationship (if they have guaranteed transfers or what not) my community college has with other universities? I plan on going to school out of state (and to a relatively selective university) than what the community college is in.</p>
<p>You may want to check with your ultimate university. Some schools do NOT accept community college credits and some do. The community colleges in this state have relationships with the flagship U, and a bunch of the private universities who agree to accept the general education requirements. But I know that not all schools do this. Taking AP classes and test is a great way to earn college credit before you begin and can also help you save money in the long run.</p>
<p>consider taking courses at a community college for the first year or two to fulfill any general education requirements. Many CCs have a relationship whereby their credits transfer to four year schools usually within the state. Another thing you might want to look at is schools with established co-op programs. In these schools once students are juniors, they alternate terms working (and earning money) and going to school. It takes longer to get done, but you earn some money during the work terms to help pay for the school terms.</p>
<p>I agree with Genevieve. In fact, I used EXACTLY the words in her post in post #2 on this thread. I firmly believe these options (community college and co-op programs) are great cost saving programs.</p>